Karen Balcom - McMaster University, Hamilton, ON

Professor: Karen Balcom

Department: History

College: McMaster University, Hamilton, ON

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HISTORY3WW3
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

HIST 3WW3 is the hardest course I have ever taken. The amount of work assigned is next to impossible. Dr. Balcom is a sweetheart but her expectations are ridiculous. Don't take her courses if you're not SUPER into history, not worth the grief.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: 3HC3
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Picks random questions for exams and they are way too long. Also too many course readings.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HISTORY2HI3
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Dr. Balcom is a great professor and an all around amazing person. I was going through a really hard time during the middle of the term and she helped me through my problem and was very accommodating. She genuinely cares for her students and wants you to succeed, so if you're having issues, TALK TO HER. Would definitely take a class of hers again!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HISTORY2RR3
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Balcom was decent, but lectures felt somewhat unorganized, and she was often all over the place. If you study hard for the exams, you'll be rewarded. Workload similar to any other history class. My main issue was that I felt Balcom did not give us a general 'survey' of US history, as she often focused solely on minority groups. Class was a 710

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HISTORY3WW3
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I've taken three classes with Dr.B. She is passionate about what she teaches and has her own unique teaching style. In her classes she provides a lot of help with research and defines her assignments and expectations clearly. She is VERY approachable and always helps students. she's amazing. You should take her classes, but you will work.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HISTORY2HI3
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Dr. Balcom was ok. I never got my marks for my last assignment. She said she would email me them, but they ended up going to another student.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HIS2
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

She is one of the most approachable people. I found most professors I've had socially awkward, but Dr. Balcom is young and a cool person. She's just friendly; yes it's true, she's a hard marker, but what do you expect people to have things handed to you? I think she pushes us to the best of our ability. She's highly intelligent and a great person.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HS
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

She is amazing, best professor I have EVER had. If I could recommend one thing to any student it would be TAKE DR BALCOM'S CLASSES. She's easy to get along with, she's super nice and adorable. If I walk into a lecture and see Karen as my professor again, I'll be the happiest person at Mac!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: WMS
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Very caring when it comes to her students and their success. Made it clear on several occasions that her office hours are open for any students with any questions! Seems very passionate about her career choice and does a great job at it! Young, enthusiastic, extremely nice lady, and someone who truly deserves being called Doctor! Loved her!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HISTORY3W02
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Dr. Balcom is one of my favourite professors in the history department. She goes out of her way to help students understand material and point them in the direction or lend students to research material. Her marking was a little slow this year, but her material was interesting and you could clearly tell she is passionate about what she teaches.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HIST2HI3
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

I found Dr. B to be very unprofessional. She would emailed each of us our feedback on assignments...except she sometimes sent us someone else's. I was not impressed by this at all. Our marks are confidential and McMaster has email policies for this exact reason. I will never take her class again because I can't trust her to act professionally.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HISTORY2H13
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

hard to talk to without being looked down on

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: WOMENST1AA3
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Dr. B keeps things interested but is very slow on getting marks back and has extremely high expectations for her 1st year courses.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: 2HI3
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

My experience with Balcom was not a good one. Avoid being in close quarters with her. Her personality seemed very closed off. She was always trying to turn her students into leaders, whatever that means. The world is not lacking in people trying to create a cult of followers Balcom! Very aristocratic attitude in my opinion.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HIST2HI3
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

She is excellent.So impressive it kind of brings tears to my eyes.Karen really goes out of her way to help the students that need her.She has her hands in what seems like everything around the city but she still makes time to help you progress.She's charming and lively as a lecturer.Members of last year's 2hi3 still reminisce over our time with her

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HIST2R03
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I happened to once overhear Dr. Balcom speaking with a student in her office. He seemed to have little clue about the work but Dr. Balcom spoke with respect, utilizing a problem-solving approach. This is the same kind of experience I had with her. She went way beyond the call of duty to be helpful and generous. She is also exceptionally organized.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HIST2R03
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Dr. Balcom was not a great prof. Maybe it was the 9/8:30 lectures, but it was tough keeping up with her: she jumped around a lot, and always assumed you had read the text book. She was fond of selecting obscure topics for her exam-essays.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: WST1AA3
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

She was ok sometimes i did not understand her leaching its not very clear but still ok

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HIST2
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Class was definately difficult, but she was a good prof. Hard to keep up in her lectures sometimes, but very clear and friendly. Goes out of her way to help her students. Put all textbooks on 2 hour reserve in library so you didn't have to buy them - I love her for that. Very approachable, cares about the students.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HIST2RR3
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I absolutely refuse to take another class with her as professor.